Multi-pack package for fishing line

ABSTRACT

A multi-pack packaging for fishing line houses multiple spools of fishing line. In a preferred embodiment, each spool holds a length of fishing line having a different diameter. A friction reducing disk is located between and adjacent to each of the spools for permitting each of the spools to rotate substantially independently of the other spools. Clips may be provided for surrounding fishing line on each of the spools between the upper flange and the lower flange of each spool. Each clip defines a clip orifice through which an end of the fishing line can protrude. Each spool is located adjacent to an orifice defined by the side wall of the cylindrical housing so that the lengths of the fishing line can extend through an adjacent orifice to allow easy access by a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to fishing line dispensers and packaging. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to fishing line packaging capable ofholding and dispensing fishing line from multiple spools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Avid fishermen oftentimes will make use of fishing line of variousdiameters, depending on the environmental conditions, type of tackle andother reasons. Therefore, it is desirable to provide fishermen withfishing line of various diameters packaged in a single dispenser whereina selected line may be easily dispensed and wherein the packaging may beused for storage until the line is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multi-pack packaging for fishing line has a cylindrical housing withan open top end, an enclosed bottom end, an inside diameter and alongitudinal axis. Multiple spools of fishing line may be located withinthe cylindrical housing. For example, a first spool, a second spool anda third spool may be received within the cylindrical housing, whereineach of the spools have a hub connected to an upper flange and a lowerflange. A greater or lesser number of spools may also be used. An upperflange and a lower flange of each spool have an outside diameter that isslightly smaller than the inside diameter of the cylindrical housing topermit rotation of the spools within the cylindrical housing.

In one embodiment, a first length of fishing line is wound around thehub of a first spool, wherein the first length has a first diameter. Asecond length of fishing line is wound around the hub of a second spool,the second length having a second diameter. A third length of fishingline is wound around the hub of a third spool, wherein the third lengthhas a third diameter.

A friction reducing disk is located between the first spool, the secondspool, and the third spool. Additionally, a friction reducing disk maybe located adjacent to the upper flange of the first spool and adjacentto the lower flange of the third spool. The friction reducing disks areprovided for permitting each of the spools to rotate more easily and torotate substantially independently of the other spools.

A first, second and third clip are provided on their respective spoolsbetween the upper flange and the lower flange of each spool. The clipssurround a length of fishing line wrapped around the hub of each spool.Each clip defines a gap through which an end of the fishing line canprotrude. Each spool is located adjacent to an orifice defined by theside wall of the cylindrical housing so that the lengths of the fishingline can extend through an adjacent orifice to allow easy access by auser.

The fishing line package provides a convenient storage container forfishing line of various sizes. Additionally, the clips discussed aboveprevent the line in each spool from inadvertently unwinding. Thefriction reducing disks facilitate rotation of a single spool whilesubstantially preventing rotation of adjacent spools. The storagecontainer additionally permits a prospective purchaser to view the linewithin the package before purchase. These and other advantages willbecome evident from the following description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-pack package of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway plan view of the package of FIG. 1 showingthe lid removed;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container alone of the package ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a line spool of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the line spool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevational view of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a left side elevational view of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the package of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention consists of a package containing multiple spoolsof fishing line wherein each spool moves independently from the others.The package contains one hole for each spool of fishing line, allowing auser to unspool a single fishing line while the remaining lines remainunspooled.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, shown is a multi-pack package for fishing linedesignated generally 10. The packaging 10 includes a cylindrical housing12, which is preferably translucent, having a top end 14 (FIGS. 4, 6),bottom end 16, an inside diameter and a longitudinal axis. Cylindricalhousing 12 defines a first orifice 18, a second orifice 20, and a thirdorifice 22. Orifices 18, 20 and 22 are preferably spaced along a lengthof cylindrical housing 12.

Bottom surface 24 (FIGS. 4, 6) is affixed to bottom end 16 of saidcylindrical translucent housing 12. A rim section 26 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6) ofcylindrical housing 12 is proximate to top end 14 of cylindrical housing12 and has a reduced thickness. A plurality of radially extending posts28 extend from rim section 26.

Lid structure 30 has cylindrical portion 32 having a top end 34, abottom end 36 (best seen in FIG. 6) and a longitudinal axis. Cylindricalportion 32 has a length that is approximately the same as a length ofrim section 26 of cylindrical housing 12. Cylindrical portion 32 of lidstructure 30 defines a plurality of L-shaped openings 38 that are spacedapart from one another to receive radially extending posts 28 ofcylindrical housing 12. A vertical section of each of L-shaped openings38 receive posts 28. When lid structure 30 is rotated, posts 28 are thenlocated in a horizontal portion of L-shaped openings 38, therebysecuring lid structure 30 to cylinder housing 12. Lid structure 30additionally defines top surface 40.

First spool 42 is received within cylindrical housing 12. First spool 42has hub 44 connected to upper flange 46 and lower flange 48. Upperflange 46 and lower flange 48 have an outside diameter that is slightlysmaller than the inside diameter of housing 12. Upper flange 46 andlower flange 48 each define finger detent 50 on the outside diameter ofeach of flanges 46, 48 to facilitate removal of first spool 42 fromhousing 12.

Second spool 52 is received within cylindrical housing 12. Second spool52 has hub 54 connected to upper flange 56 and lower flange 58. Upperflange 56 and lower flange 58 have an outside diameter that is slightlysmaller than the inside diameter of housing 12. Upper flange 56 andlower flange 58 each define finger detent 60 on the outside diameter ofeach of flanges 56, 58 to facilitate removal of second spool 52 fromhousing 12.

Third spool 62 is received within cylindrical housing 12. Third spool 62has hub 64 connected to upper flange 66 and lower flange 68. Upperflange 66 and lower flange 68 have an outside diameter that is slightlysmaller than the inside diameter of housing 12. Upper flange 66 andlower flange 68 each define finger detent 70 on the outside diameter ofeach of flanges 56, 58 to facilitate removal of third spool 62 fromhousing 12.

First length 72 of fishing line is wound around hub 44 of first spool42. First length 72 has a first diameter and first terminal end 74.Second length 76 of fishing line is wound around hub 54 of second spool52. Second length 76 preferably has a second diameter and defines secondterminal end 78. Third length 80 of fishing line is wound around hub 64of third spool 62. Third length 76 preferably has a third diameter anddefines third terminal end 82.

First clip 84 surrounds first length 72 of fishing line. First clip 84has first end 86 and second end 88. First clip 84 defines clip orifice85 through which first terminal end 74 of fishing line 72 can protrudefor extending through first orifice 18 of housing 12.

Second clip 94 surrounds second length 76 of fishing line. Second clip94 has first end 96 and second end 98. Second clip 94 defines cliporifice 95 through which second terminal end 78 of fishing line canprotrude for extending through second orifice 20 of housing 12.

Third clip 104 surrounds third length 80 of fishing line. Third clip 104has first end 106 and second end 108. Third clip 104 defines cliporifice 105 through which terminal end 82 of fishing line can protrudefor extending through third orifice 22 of housing 12.

First friction reducing disk 110 is located between lower flange 48 offirst spool 42 and upper flange 56 of second spool 52. Second frictionreducing disk 112 is located between lower flange 58 of second spool 52and upper flange 66 of third spool 62. Third friction reducing disk 114is located between lower flange 68 of third spool 62 and bottom surface24 of housing 12. Friction relieving disks 110, 112, 114 are preferablymade of PVC or another low friction material to permit spools 42, 52, 62to rotate substantially independent of one another.

Circular product identifying disk 116 is located adjacent to top surface40 of lid structure 30. Product identifying strip 118 is located withincylindrical housing 12. Strip 118 surrounds first spool 42, second spool52, and third spool 62. When located within housing 12, strip 118defines an opening 120 that permits viewing of a portion of line 72, 76,and 80 of spools 42, 52, 62.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectivesand attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as thoseinherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have beendescribed for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes andmodifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of thisinvention as defined by the claims.

1. A multi-pack packaging for fishing line comprising: a housing havingan open top end, an enclosed bottom end, an inside diameter and alongitudinal axis; a first spool received within said housing, saidfirst spool having a hub connected to an upper flange and a lowerflange, said upper flange and said lower flange having an outsidediameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of said housing topermit rotation of said first spool within said housing; a second spoolreceived within said housing and located beneath said first spool, saidsecond spool having a hub connected to an upper flange and a lowerflange, said upper flange and said lower flange having an outsidediameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of said housing, topermit rotation of said second spool within said housing; a first lengthof fishing line wound around said hub of said first spool, said firstlength having a first diameter; a second of length of fishing line woundaround said hub of said second spool, said second length having a seconddiameter; a friction reducing disk between said first spool and saidsecond spool for permitting said first spool to rotate substantiallyindependent of said second spool.
 2. The packaging according to claim 1further comprising: a second friction reducing disk between said lowerflange of said second spool and a bottom surface of said enclosed bottomend of said housing to facilitate ease of rotation of said second spool.3. The packaging according to claim 1 wherein: said housing defines afirst orifice and a second orifice spaced along a length of said housingfor receiving said first length of fishing line and said second lengthof fishing line, respectively.
 4. The packaging according to claim 3further comprising: a third orifice defined by said housing, said thirdorifice located below said first orifice and said second orifice, saidthird orifice for receiving a third length of fishing line.
 5. Thepackaging according to claim 1 further comprising: a lid structure forengaging said open top end of said housing.
 6. The packaging accordingto claim 1 wherein: said second diameter of said second length offishing line is different from said first diameter of said first lengthof fishing line.
 7. The packaging according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a third spool received within said housing, said third spoollocated below said second spool, said third spool having a hub connectedto an upper flange and a lower flange, said upper flange and said lowerflange having an outside diameter slightly smaller than said insidediameter of said housing; said third spool receiving a third length offishing line, said third length wound around said hub of said thirdspool, said third length having a third diameter.
 8. The packagingaccording to claim 7 wherein: said third diameter of said third lengthof fishing line is different than said first diameter of said firstlength of fishing line and is different than said second diameter ofsaid second length of fishing line.
 9. The packaging according to claim7 further comprising: a third clip surrounding said third length offishing line, said third clip having a first end and a second end, saidthird clip defining a clip orifice through which an end of said thirdlength of fishing line can protrude.
 10. The packaging according toclaim 7 further comprising: a third friction reducing disk adjacent saidlower flange of said third spool and adjacent to a bottom surface ofsaid enclosed bottom end of said housing for facilitating ease ofrotation of said third friction reducing disk.
 11. The packagingaccording to claim 1 further comprising: a material strip within saidhousing and surrounding said first spool and said second spool, saidmaterial strip defining an opening to permit viewing of a portion ofsaid spools within said housing when said material strip is placedwithin said housing.
 12. The packaging according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a first clip between said upper flange and said lower flangeof said first spool, said first clip surrounding said first length offishing line, said first clip having a first end and a second end, saidfirst clip defining a clip orifice through which an end of said firstlength of fishing line can protrude; and a second clip between saidupper flange and said lower flange of said second spool, said secondclip surrounding said second length of fishing line, said second cliphaving a first end and a second end, said second clip defining a cliporifice through which an end of fishing line can protrude.
 13. Amulti-pack packaging for fishing line comprising: a housing having anopen top end, an enclosed bottom end, an inside diameter and alongitudinal axis; a first spool received within said housing, saidfirst spool having a hub connected to an upper flange and a lowerflange, said upper flange and said lower flange having an outsidediameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of said housing tofacilitate rotation of said first spool within said housing; a secondspool received within said housing, said second spool having a hubconnected to an upper flange and a lower flange, said upper flange andsaid lower flange having an outside diameter slightly smaller than saidinside diameter of said housing, to facilitate rotation of said secondspool within said housing; a first length of fishing line, said firstlength wound around said hub of said first spool, said first lengthhaving a first diameter; a second length of fishing line, said secondlength wound around said hub of said second spool, said second lengthhaving a second diameter; a first clip between said upper flange andsaid lower flange of said first spool, said first clip surrounding saidfirst length of fishing line, said first clip having a first end and asecond end, said first clip defining a clip orifice through which an endof said first length of fishing line can protrude; a second clip betweensaid upper flange and said lower flange of said second spool, saidsecond clip surrounding said second length of fishing line, said secondclip having a first end and a second end, said second clip defining aclip orifice through which an end of said second length of fishing linecan protrude.
 14. The packaging according to claim 13 wherein: saidhousing defines a first orifice and a second orifice spaced along alength of said housing.
 15. The packaging according to claim 14 furthercomprising: a third orifice spaced along a length of said housing, saidthird orifice located below said second orifice.
 16. The packagingaccording to claim 13 further comprising: a lid structure for engagingsaid open top end of said housing.
 17. The packaging according to claim13 further comprising: a third spool received within said housing, saidthird spool located below said second spool, said third spool having ahub connected to an upper flange and a lower flange, said upper flangeand said lower flange having an outside diameter slightly smaller thansaid inside diameter of said housing.
 18. The packaging according toclaim 17 further comprising: a third length of fishing line, said thirdlength wound around said hub of said third spool, said third lengthhaving a third diameter.
 19. The packaging according to claim 18wherein: said third diameter is different than said first diameter andsaid second diameter.
 20. The packaging according to claim 18 furthercomprising: a third clip between said upper flange and said lower flangeof said third spool, said third clip surrounding said third length offishing line, said third clip having a first end and a second end, saidthird clip defining a clip orifice through which an end of fishing linecan protrude.
 21. The packaging according to claim 17 furthercomprising: a third friction reducing disk adjacent said lower flange ofsaid third spool and adjacent a bottom surface of said enclosed bottomend of said housing for facilitating ease of rotation of said thirdspool.
 22. The packaging according to claim 13 further comprising: amaterial strip within said housing and surrounding said first spool andsaid second spool, said material strip defining an opening to permitviewing of a portion of said spools when said material strip is placedwithin said housing.
 23. The packaging according to claim 13 furthercomprising: a first friction reducing disk between said first spool andsaid second spool for substantially isolating rotation of said firstspool from said second spool; a second friction reducing disk adjacentto said lower flange of said second spool for permitting ease ofrotation of said second spool.
 24. A multi-pack packaging for fishingline comprising: a housing having an open top end, an enclosed bottomend, an inside diameter and a longitudinal axis, said housing defining afirst orifice, a second orifice, and a third orifice spaced along alength of said housing; a first spool received within said housing, saidfirst spool having a hub connected to an upper flange and a lowerflange, said upper flange and said lower flange having an outsidediameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of said housing topermit rotation of said first spool within said housing; a second spoolreceived within said housing, said second spool having a hub connectedto an upper flange and a lower flange, said upper flange and said lowerflange having an outside diameter slightly smaller than said insidediameter of said housing, to permit rotation of said second spool withinsaid housing; a third spool received within said housing, said thirdspool having a hub connected to an upper flange and a lower flange, saidupper flange and said lower flange having an outside diameter slightlysmaller than said inside diameter of said housing to permit rotation ofsaid third spool within said housing; a first length of fishing linewound around said hub of said first spool, said first length having afirst diameter; a second length of fishing line wound around said hub ofsaid second spool, said second length having a second diameter; a thirdlength of fishing line wound around said hub of said third spool, saidthird length having a third diameter; wherein said first spool islocated adjacent to said first orifice so that said first length of saidfishing line can extend from said first orifice; wherein said secondspool is located adjacent to said second orifice so that said secondlength of said fishing line can extend from said second orifice; whereinsaid third spool is located adjacent to said third orifice so that saidthird length of said fishing line can extend from said third orifice.